The door could be ajar for Southampton to land Tammy Abraham

According to a recent report from The Sun, Tammy Abraham’s future looks far from certain heading into the January transfer window.

The young striker is currently playing his football at Championship outfit Aston Villa on loan from Premier League giants Chelsea, with his tally of 16 goals in 20 league games for Dean Smith’s side underlining just how bright a future the 21-year-old has in the game.

And reports suggest that the England international is seeking to cut short his loan spell at Villa Park in a bid to earn a temporary stint to a top-flight side, which should be of keen interest to Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl as he eyes the signings that could keep them in the Premier League.

The South Coast outfit have struggled greatly in the last 18 months or so and look set for another relegation battle this time round given they sit 17th in the Premier League table, outside of the bottom three only on goal difference.

And while their tally of 21 goals in 20 games isn’t the worst record in the division, all three teams below them have scored fewer, it’s a tally which certainly needs improving if Hasenhuttl is to guide his team away from the relegation mire as the season progresses.

And the current options at the Saints chief’s disposal aren’t exactly inspiring much confidence as, other than Danny Ings, no other striker at St Mary’s has managed to reach five goals so far this term – Charlie Austin has three, and Manolo Gabbiadini and Michael Obafemi have only one apiece.

Thus, it’s pretty evident that the South Coast club are in dire need of a prolific goal-scorer to help move them away from the bottom three, and while Abraham’s success this term has come in the Championship, he can certainly do a job in the top-flight.

The 21-year-old has lit up Villa Park so far this term with a staggering 16 goals in just 20 games for the Villans to help them into position to challenge for promotion in 2019 – in fact, he has failed to score in only two of his last ten league games for Smith’s side.

And while some Southampton fans will be concerned that he is producing the goods in the Championship and not the Premier League, one mustn’t forget that Abraham did reasonably well for Swansea City in the top tier last term in netting five times for the South Wales outfit, albeit he wasn’t able to keep them in the top-flight.

Add in the fact that goals breed confidence alongside the 21-year-old’s other strengths in holding the ball up and providing an aerial threat, and there is no doubting that Southampton would benefit from his arrival this month – Hasenhuttl’s appointment injected much needed optimism into the club, now they must back that up with signings in January.

And with Abraham reportedly seeking to end his Villa spell in a bid for a Premier League move, the door could well be ajar for Hasenhuttl to lure the 21-year-old to St Mary’s, in turn sealing the signing that may just keep his team in the top-flight.